March 26 starters thread 2 - still going strong!

[MoneyJo]

Hello all, didn't want us to get to the end of the first thread without a link to a sequel. Looking forward to seeing where we all get to in the life span of this thread.

I’ve put on 1/2lb this week. I’m annoyed about this when I’m on my last few doses. I was away at the weekend. I didn’t track my calories but I ate way less than I normally would on a trip away. I said no to desserts and had tiny portions. It has been a reminder that I cannot take my eye off the ball.

I've just taste tested these ones, they are imo better than the serrano ham ones, although slightly less protein and more calories : (

://www.marksandspencer.com/food/spanish-spicy-chorizo-crisps/p/fdp60609032#intid=pid_pg1pip48g6r1c1_search-term-spicy%20chorizo%20crisps

The kale sounds good @SmallTreeDeepRoots , do you have a recipe for that?

@Darkspiderplant , don't sweat the half pound, I fluctuate loads but the general trend is down.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend, we have to have treats sometimes.

OMG there is an M&S food recommendations thread in chat that I'm reading now. What's wrong with me?

It's not exactly 'food noise', but it is a form of self torture!

@taratill Not a real one! Toss chopped kale in a bowl with a small bit of oil (tsp) and any seasoning (I like garlic powder and paprika, sometimes a few sesame seeds if I’m feeling fancy). Arrange in a small roasting tin and put in preheated oven at 210C for 10-14 minutes until crispy. Go mad on the sea salt. It keeps for a day in a sealed container, but best relatively fresh. Sometimes I don’t even wait for it to cool. It satisfies my crisp urges and probably full of fibre.

oooh I'll give that a go, thanks @SmallTreeDeepRoots !

Loving the snack ideas from you both @taratill and @SmallTreeDeepRoots, my downfall has always been my sweet tooth, Mounjaro seems to have numbed it though, just amazing. I've never been fussed about crisps, but I do love something with a bit of a crunch.
Size 16 trousers @MoneyJo? What a result! My top half is shrinking more quickly than my bottom half, but it's to be expected I guess, my tummy was huge when I started, and just like you @taratill, I was in denial about how big I'd got, wore elasticated waists and avoided mirrors.
@Darkspiderplant, that rogue half pound will disappear next week I am sure of it.
As for me, another 0.5kg off and I am under 90kg (just) for the first time in 10 years (I have dieting spreadsheets going back to 2012!), I can hardly believe it!
Have a great weekend everyone 😊

It's so random isn't it, @ShebaQueen
People have really noticed I've lost weight now, and I can see it in my face in photos. Clearly my bottom half is smaller but I feel like my boobs and arms are as big as ever!

Morning @MoneyJo, yes so random! I do think that the brain needs to catch up with what it sees in the mirror or on the scales, I have been fat for so long now, that it's all I can remember. I never had a weight problem until my 40s though.
How lovely for you that people are noticing, all the hard work is paying off!

Afternoon everyone, back from a lovely week in Corfu ☀️
Pleased to say my weight stayed at 16st 2lbs! No loss but fab to have no gain this time. One of my swimsuits went in the bin there as was too baggy haha.
well done to all - especially the size 16 trousers @MoneyJo you must be chuffed 👏
Cant believe it’s still hot here! Have a lovely weekend everyone 🥰

Welcome home @Beehivebabe glad you had a good holiday. Well done on staying the same. Still very hot and back into the 30s next week for Essex. I'd had enough of the heat weeks ago!

@ShebaQueen thank you, and I agree it’s hard work doing anything in this heat. My mum’s birthday is Weds and I’ve just seen a 33 forecast 😩

Well done @Beehivebabe I'm back too and ended up losing 50 grams think that was all sweat, it was so hot!! Funnily enough I also binned a swimsuit it was just so flappy around my legs so it seems my weight loss is mainly from my rear.

I have a three week holiday end of August/September and thinking I might just take a break and not take the injections out with me as staying with friends and don't want the judgement etc. Just wondering if I do whether need to start again from the beginning when I get back or just resume doses?

@Annex I’m the same as you, my legs and bums are definitely smaller, my belly will take a bit longer I think lol.
I’m not sure about a 3 week break, I’m still on 5mg so in those circumstances I would do 2.5 for a week and then 3.75 with a view to being back to 5 by week 3. Obviously does depend on what dose you are currently on?

@Beehivebabe I'm on 7.5mg, I am on my second month on this dose, I probably should have stayed on 5mg longer as was still losing but not to a great extent.
I need to do more reading about the effects of taking a short break

I had a big nsv this week in the form of pin stripe cropped trousers. I bought them 7 or 8 years ago when I had lost a bit, but they were a teeny bit too tight. I put them on one day and took them off again, never got into them that summer. The next summer they were even tighter and after that there was no point, they probably wouldn't go up my leg. I finally pulled the tag off yesterday and felt so proud. I don't particularly like them actually, but that's not the point!!

@taratilli know what you mean about that kind of disconnect between body and mind. I was overweight to some extent since my teens but lost all the weight about 17 years ago for the first time. What I hadn't expected was the way I had to reconnect with myself and that led me to really notice things but also be quite critical about specific things. Whereas before i saw a fat lump I now saw specific flaws and while I felt better overall I became self conscious over certain things. You know how beautiful women moan about ridiculous things like an earlobe being too big or their right baby toe nail having a funny shape... well I guess it was a bit of that. This time I'm trying to lose weight in a more loving way, not hating my old body but improving it and respecting it for all it does for me. And also accepting that my body is me and that's all I am and will ever be, so how can I hate or criticise who I am without disrespecting myself.

@Annex I am not sure of the best approach after a break, but like @Beehivebabe says, I am guessing that it might be best to start low and gradually increase your dose week by week.
@Dontlletmedownbruce you have made me laugh out loud about those trousers! Liking them is definitely not the point, fitting into them is a big success!

Morning all, well despite some massive fluctuations during the week I've lost 1.5 lbs which is good. Is anyone else feeling a bit bored with dieting now or is it just me? I'm definitely reaching for the carbs more. It's not that the dose I am on isn't working. I injected yesterday then ate a big meal (compared with my normal last night as I was being greedy) and feel absolutely stuffed to the gills still this morning.

I think I might need to vary what I'm eating a bit.

@MoneyJo bet you're really pleased that people are noticing. No one, outside family, has said anything to me.

@Beehivebabe glad you enjoyed Corfu, well done for staying the same! And I'm loving the swimming costume nsv for both you and @Annex.

@Dontlletmedownbruce great news on the trousers! Will you wear them if you don't like them? I love your attitude to weight loss and your body.

I know what you mean @taratill , the novelty has worn off a bit. I do eat what I fancy, but luckily the thing is I’m just not craving things like I used to. But it’s still a little bit dull.

To try and counteract this I reminded myself constantly of all the ways in which I’m winning by having lost weight, and that other parts of my life have replaced the fun what food used to offer.

@taratill I get you, yes it’s a tad boring not reaching for all the treats and bigger dinners but I’m like @Junmaro I try to remind myself that I look and feel heaps better and that is worth more than being a bit bored with dieting 😅 at the moment!!

@taratill So bloody bored of dieting and have been for a while. So focusing on skipping breakfast and doing time-restricted eating, taking collagen powder for protein boost, eating family meals but having a bit less of the carb on my plate. And no alcohol which I’ve been off for a while as it plays havoc with my precious sleep. No calorie counting at the moment, no restrictions. I save treats for pudding and knowing I can have it later helps me manage. Mostly I’m focussing on exercise - in a getting fitter, stronger way rather than burning calories. MJ is helping me stick to TRE and not obsess between my two meals. I expect at some point I will have to zero in on the calories, but I want to put it off for as long as possible and slowly ride the low hanging fruit for as long as possible. I’m bored enough of it before I’ve really tackled it iyswim. Life seems a bit short to be weighing carrots, but I expect I will be doing just that in 6 months or so!

Hello I’ve lurked for a few months and decided to stick my head above the parapet and say hi 👋

You’ve all done so well. I think I have too but maybe a little slower than most. I’ve got 2 doses left in my 5th pen and this will be my last due to finances. I’m not at goal yet but hoping these past few months have been the reset I needed to help me succeed alone. I’ve always eaten pretty healthily but sugar had crept in more and more and I’ve managed to pretty much eradicate that to the point sweet treats taste nasty to me now. My portion sizes had also expanded and I think that’s what will be hard when I come off the jabs and hunger returns. I’m “only” on 5ml jabs and have felt some hunger pretty much throughout so it won’t be too big a shock to the system I hope. And I’ve got back into regular exercise and more steps which should be an easier part to maintain.

I’m 45 and 169 cm for context
SW 13.2
CW 11.5 (1lb away from being in healthy weight BMI)
GW 10.10

so 9lb to go but I think if I manage to get there I might need to go a bit lighter still. We shall see. Either way it’s been lovely hearing the successes on here, thanks to all for contributing you’ve helped me lots and I’m sure there are many others lurking who feel the same 😊

It's a relief to know that others have been feeling the same way.

I had a chicken wrap this lunchtime and enjoyed it. I normally just have salad so no carbs.

I'm still eating, broadly speaking, within the correct number of calories.

I hope this passes soon!

@CatsAreBetterThanPeeps glad you've delurked! Well done on your loss and it's great that you are near target! Make sure you keep posting now!

Going up to 7.5 last week was clearly the right move for me - lost 2lb this week despite a couple of meals out and friends for dinner last night.

I feel like I'm learning to pick the bits I enjoy in a meal with friends and not worry about leaving a pile of rice or bread on the plate.

That's brilliant @MoneyJo, Finding strategies around eating out or eating with others is also sensible.

I am still losing steadily around 1 1/2 lbs last week. I think I am intolerant of bread products as I've had bread a couple of times this week and it's made me feel really bloated, and given me a bit of tummy ache.

I had a NSV yesterday, the first comment from a non family member! I think peope must be able to notice now. My face always carried a lot of weight and it's so much slimmer, plus I have lost around 8 inches around my middle! The person who noticed is a really slim and glamorous cricket mum, so that was nice!

Hope everyone is doing ok. We're having the whole of our downstairs refloored at the moment which is really disruptive. One of the dogs is still in the cone of shame because she has infected wounds from insect bites so walking dogs is difficult as she has to now wear it all the time so my step count has reduced as I can't even pace the floor!